Friday 13 May 2016

Five on Friday - garden

Hello

Well my 'Five on Friday' hosted by Amy at Love Made My Home follows a similar theme
 to Amy's, it's all about my garden but somehow mine doesn't feel quite so calm and
 ordered. In fact I originally considered titling this post "Five surprising things in my garden" 
but managed to find some 'neater' photos in the end to balance out this post.
 So here goes. 

One: Balls, all 58!!


Two children love sports, especially football, and our garden is always littered with balls. 
Every so often I have a round-up. I did this last weekend and managed to fill 2 old dustbins 
with 58 balls including table tennis, tennis, golf, soft, hockey, lacrosse and 
of course, footballs! We get through so many footballs we buy them in bulk!
"Doubtless I will find more balls once I get on with the weeding" 
(she says shyly, see photo 3)

Two: Bedding plants in flowerpots!!


"Bedding plants in flower pots? What's so special about that?" you might ask. 
Well, it is quite a few years since I have put flowers in pots, and the reason is because of 
photo 1 above. Yes, balls! With so many balls flying around the garden my bedding plants 
were frequently dead-headed whether they were ready to be dead-headed or not! 
In fact, dead-stalked would probably be a better description. I did point out to daughter 
that I'd planted flowers in pots this year and that I was hoping that as she is now 17 she 
should be a better shot and could thus avoid my pots! Only time will tell, and my 
flowers have the long summer holiday to survive yet when 2 more young people will 
be back home from University and playing ball games in the garden. 
"Take cover plants!"

Three: (weeds)


Yes, I mention that word quietly. 
Life has been pretty busy bringing up children and 
working so the garden has been neglected over the last few years. But both sons are now 
at University, and daughter passed her driving test a few weeks ago and has suddenly 
become very independent, in fact I feel she has grown a whole 12 months in just one day!
So, sadly, we do have more free time and I think I have 
probably done more gardening already this year than I have in the last 5! 
But this bit of garden at the bottom is one part that I have yet to tackle and I have 
decided that I want to start again with it. 
However, I did think the bluebells looked pretty against the ornamental grasses 
(for 'ornamental grasses' read 'weeds'). 

Four: More balls, ball games

Daughter is revising for AS-levels and so spends many hours sat at a desk. This is quite 
challenging when you are someone who likes being active. Every so often we take her
 outside and throw a few balls for her to catch, and as you can see she thoroughly enjoys
 this and literally throws herself into the activity!

Five: Matching the bluebells 


I have just started knitting my next pair of socks, and I think this might be my
 favourite colourway yet: Regia design line Kaffe Fasset "Frost"
This was one that I was so tempted to buy some months ago and 
eventually gave into the urge and I am so pleased I did - it was definitely the 
right decision. In fact, I'm thinking of purchasing more yarn to knit gloves and a scarf, 
not that I am intending to wear them all at the same time. 

Please head over to Amy's blog. Thank you to Amy for hosting "Five on Friday"
Wishing you a good weekend - and where has the sun gone?? 
xXx

Wednesday 4 May 2016

Birdsong....and Ginny's yarn along

Hello,

Once again joining in with Ginny's yarn along

So I am re-reading Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. 
I first read this book several years ago and thought it was quite good 
and decided to have another go at it. 
I think my current opinions on it are very similar to those when I read it the first time. 
"It's quite good" but not a top 10 favourite.
The descriptions of life in the first world war trenches is impressive. 


 Knitting continues to be "those" socks for younger son, but I am on the home run.
 One sock finished, and turned the heel on the second sock so the finishing line is in sight! Yippee!

And today's photo is rather special: I took it outside in warm sunshine, yes, warm sunshine. 
Thank goodness I was working at home today and could nip outside to appreciate even just a few  minutes some very welcome sunshine.

Do have a look at the gorgeous yarn Ginny is using, it reminds me of a green meadow full of summer flowers.  

I hope you have managed to enjoy a bit of sunlight today!
                                                                                  xXx

And P.S. (all non-football-fans look away now): 

well done Leicester City on winning the Premier League!!!